Drones
Skydio launched a docked version of its X10 drone and software built for drone-as-first-responder programs, saying more than 500 agencies in all 50 states used its drones for this.
A dated step forward on the record · Company-reported
What the source says
“Over 500 public safety agencies across all 50 states rely on Skydio drones for DFR.”
What it means
Drones as first responders, from Skydio, Flock Safety, Brinc, Axon, is at stage 5 of 5 on our ladder: regulator-cleared or mass market. Its stage is set by other milestones on its record; this one adds to the history. This line rests on the company's own announcement; no regulator, customer or independent report confirms it in our sources yet.
Human help: People working remotely can steer it or take over.
More on Drones as first responders
- Lakeland, Florida's city commission approved a ten-year, $22 million Axon agreement that adds docked drones (drones launched from a base station) to police body cameras, TASERs and software.
- Lakeland, Florida, bought drone-as-first-responder flights (police drones sent to emergency calls) as part of a 10-year, $21.98 million Axon contract that also covers body cameras and in-car video.
- A Boston police Brinc Responder drone fell from the sky onto a parked car six days after the city announced its pilot program. No one was hurt and no cause had been given.
- A Boston police drone (a Brinc Responder) fell onto a parked Mazda in Brighton, damaging the rear windshield and trunk; no injuries were reported.
- Chula Vista, California, the department that started this kind of program, had passed 25,000 drone flights and publishes a map of every mission.
- Privacy groups such as the EFF warn that these drones can film people from distances where they do not know they are being watched.